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The Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 10 September, 1948.
THE SUGAR LOAF BLAZE.
Fire, which broke out at the "Sugar Loaf Cafe" in Biggin Street
during Monday night completely gutted a large part of the building,
and caused damage to stock and equipment estimated at thousands of
pounds.
Although the following morning there was comparatively little damage
to be seen by passers-by in the main street, charred beams, debris
and blackened walls were all that remained of the rear of the
building.
The promptness with which the outbreak was tackled by the Kent Fire
Brigade, under Station-Officer Smith, prevented the flames from
damaging the restaurant on the ground floor, the room immediately
above it, and from spreading to adjoining properties.
Mr. Frederick Denton and his wife the proprietors of the "Sugar
Loaf," did not live on the premises, which had been left unoccupied
for the night. It was Mrs. Taylor, the occupier of a flat in the
next building, who first raised the alarm. She awoke just before
1.30 a.m. and noticed smoke eddying past the window of her room. Her
husband. Mr. Frank Taylor, immediately phoned the Police, who
notified the Brigade.
A pump escape, turntable ladder and salvage tender raced to the
scene. Flames were leaping from the roof of the building and back
windows and a red glow could be seen through the windows at the
front. Firemen attacked the flames with hoses outside while Station
Officer Smith and Leading Fireman Toms forced a way in.
Most of the damage had been done before the firemen arrived. The
bakehouses and kitchens, which were above the restaurant, were
gutted. A big gas oven, weighing over 30-cwt. had crashed from the
upper room of the building to the second floor, smashing another
oven as it fell. The roof had gone and most of the back rooms burnt
out.
In a quarter of an hour Station Officer Smith was able to send a
message back to the Fire Station that no further assistance was
required and the fire was under control.
To protect the restaurant as far as possible from water, salvage
sheets were spread over the furniture and stock, and other sheets
folded and suspended above "guttered" the water outside. At the rear
of the building other firemen were ensuring that the debris and
damaged walls were safe from further collapse. It was not until one
o'clock in the afternoon that the firemen eventually left.
Mr. Denton, the proprietor, had been on the scene most of the night,
and had given what assistance he could to the firemen.
He raised a sympathetic laugh from a group of early morning workers
who had gathered outside when he said, "I’m still determined to open
the shop to-day."
His employees, most of whom were unaware of the fire, turned up for
work as usual at about eight o’clock, and thanks to the care taken
by the firemen, were soon able to make a start on getting the
restaurant in order.
Regular customers missed their morning coffee, but the premises were
opened in the afternoon.
A person who lives close to the "Sugar Loaf" subsequently said he
smelt smoke shortly before midnight. He walked round the buildings,
saw no sign of any fire, and returned to his home.
Station Officer Smith points out that any person suspecting an
outbreak of fire should immediately notify the Fire Brigade. "A few
minutes start may mean a life saved or thousands of pounds worth of
damage averted."
If the informer is mistaken the message "False alarm but with good
intent" is recorded.
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